Vehicle spring



Aug. 30, 1932. H. G. SMITH VEHICLE 'SPRING Filed Feb. '7. 1950 INVENTOR. 457162Z ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 30, 1932 Uran Partnr orrrcr HARRY G. SMITH, F MISHAWAKA, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO TEE ST1.UDEBALKFLR,lI COR- PORATON, OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF NEVI JERSEY l VEHICLE SPRING Appblcaton led February 7, 1930.V Seria1 No. 426,528.

V.This invention relates tothe springsfor supporting the frame of a motor vehicle on Lthe axlesy thereof and more especially to the springs forsupporting the frame on the axle carrying the road steering Wheels.

5 Y Since balloon and semi-balloon tireshave been used on motor vehicles considerable difv iculty has been experienced because ofthe shimmy and tramping of the vehicle which has caused these objectionable vibrations to be transmitted to the steering Wheel which is very annoying, and in many cases dangerous to the occupants of the vehicle. Various attemptsvhave been made to eliminate or vabsorb these vibrations but in doing ,so theA steering of the vehicle has been interdifficulties heretofore encountered and bring the parts of the vehicle into such relationship that the vibrations will be prevented or controlled whereby the driver and other occupants of the vehicle will not be subject to the annoyances heretofore experienced.

.Another object yof the invention is to provide a construction` which Will. permit of slight yielding of one of the sprlngv connections underconditions so that the movement Y,of the axle may accommodate itselfrmore nearly to the arc of the steering connecting rod or drag link and thereby prevent deflection of the Wheels or steering knuckles under road conditions which tend to cause vibration of the vehicle parts.

A further object is to provide a yielding connection for the spring on the frame at one side of the vehicle to break up and dissipate the vibrations which may be started in the axle and frame so that these vibrations will not be transmitted to the steering gear.

A'further object is to provide a resilient support for one end of one of the springs which is supported at its opposite end by a shackle Vtov the frame and intermediate its ends onthe axle, thel spring being normally ield in neutral position in its resilient supl ort. s

A still further object is to provide an attaching means vfor the front end of the spring at the steering side of the `motorv vehicle Which comprises a resilient member carried by the frame in which is supported va nonresilient member carrying the front end of the spring so as to obtain a slight movement of the front axle forwardlyV and rearwardly to eliminate the reactions of steering.4

Further objects and objects relating to details of construction and manufacture Will be apparent from the detailed description to follow, and then claimed, having thev above and yother objects in view. l

In the accompanying drawing Which shows a suitable embodiment of the present invention, f

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a motor vehicle, certainparts being broken avvay and other parts shown in dotted lines to more fully illustrate the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary s ectional view showing the means for supporting the end of the spring in the vehicle frame. Y

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially onthe line 3-3 of Figure 2. y

Figure lis a perspective view showing the resilient member in Which the spring end sup;- port is mounted.

'Fgure 5 is a perspective view on a reduced scale showing the two front springs of Ythevehicle together with fragmentary portions of the chassis frame andfront axle.

Referring to the accompanying drawing in which like Vnumerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, the frame side member is provided with a spring hanger 11 at its forward end and With a bracketA 12 vrearwardly ,therefrom carrying a shackle 13 .pivotally connected with the spring le atthe rear end thereof. The spring 14 is supported intermediate its ends on the axle 15 car rying the road steering Wheels 16. The forward end of the spring k14C is formed to provide an eye 17 in which is mounted a shackle pin 18 forming a part of a bearing referred to generally by the number 19,

` Although I have shown a ball bearing to be used at the forward end of the spring 14, it is not my intention to be limited to this design of bearing as any of the various designs of mountings now available to those skilled in the art such as a roller, bronze or other type of bearing may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

The pin 18 is journaled in a supporting member 20, asis clearly shown in Figure 3, which has at its upper end a head portion 2l provided with forwardly and rearwardly extending flanges 22 and 22 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The spring hanger 11 is rovided with a recess 23 bounded by the wa 125 and `ledge 25l in which is adapted to be inserted a resilient block 24 which may be 'formed of a rubbercompound,although other suitable substances maybe used, the resilient member 24 then being held in position by the plate 26 secured on the spring Vhanger 11 by the bolts 27. The resilient member 24 is 'formed to provide a recess 28 corresponding in shape and adapted to receive the head 21 of the member 20, as is shown in Figure 2. Althou h I have lshown the resilient member 24 asjaapted to be insertedin the pocket23 formed in the spring member 11 and secured in Iplace therein by means of the plate 26, it wi `be understood that if desired the frame' that shown, or in may instances it'may be` desirable to use a spring mounting having sxxed pivot at one end of the spring with the f rame. anda yshackle connection at the Vother end, as is the presentconventional construction in spring mountings 'as used on practically all makes of automobiles.

By the use of the resilient mounting for the Vspring at the forward end thereof as is shown in Fi re 2, theaxle 15 is permitted to have a. limited fore and aft movement, which movement will ,cause the flange Vportions 22 and 22 on the member 20 to move longitudinaily relative to the sprin hanger 11 and rock or pivot'y in the resilient memberl 24 against the dis lacement of the resilient material which will act as an insulator and abl Serb vibrations set up by the road wheel or` y'frame whereby those vibrations will not be transmitted through the steering gear to the 'steering wheel which must necessarily be conneoted the steeringl road Wheels.

n In the construction above described it will be seen that the'sprin suspension of the vehicleA framerelative to me axle is accomplished on one side of the vehicle by means of a spring assembly secured to the frame mem f ber at one end by a shackle and at the other end by a flexible mounting in which the plvotal axis of the spring is capable of being displaced under varying conditions of travel of the vehicle. By the use of the spring mounting above described, it yhas been found that vibrations which have been heretofore apvparent to the driver and other occupants of the vehicle are eliminated and that the life of the vehicle parts subjected to these vibratory movements has been materially increased.

While I have shown one embdiment Vof my invention, it will be understood to those skilled in the art that formal changesand changes relating to details of construction and manufacture will be apparent without departing from the spirit and substance of the invention, thescope of which is commen- 'g5 surate with the appended claims.

What I claim is: f 1. In a motorvehicle, the combination with the frame and the axle, of a spring rigidly kconnected intermediate its ends to said axle, a f' the frame andthe axle, of a spring rigidly connected intermediate its ends to said axle, a shackle connection between the rear end of said spring and said frame, a spring hanger having a recess formed therein secured to the front of said frame, a resilient rubber block within said recess, a'spring supporting member mounted in said resilient member direct- 1y pivotally supporting the front end of said vsprlng whereby said spring may have a limited longitudinal motion relative to said` frame to absorb shocks transmitted from said axle to said spring. f f

3. In a motor vehicle, the combination with the frame of the vehicle and the axle; vof

means to resilientlymount the frame on the axle comprising, springs secured to the frame and axle at opposite sides of the frame; of means for mounting one of said springs to move in its flexure about a fixed axis; and means for mounting the other of said springs to move in its flexure about an axis shlftable relative to the frame of the vehicle, said last means comprising, a spring hangeron said frame having a recess therein, a hollow rubber block in said recess, and a member directly pivoted to one end of said spring having an enlarged portion secured in said rubber block.

4. In a motor vehicle, the combination with the frame of the vehicle and the axle; of means to resiliently mount the frame on the axle comprising, springs secured intermediate their ends to the axle and having their ends secured to the frame; of means for mounting one of said springs to move in its iiexure about a fixed axis; yand means for mounting the other of said springs to move in its lexure about an axis shiftable relative to the frame of thevehicle, said last means comprising, a spring hanger on the front of said frame having a recess therein, a hollow rubber block in said recess, and a member directly pivoted to the front end of one of said springs having an enlarged portion secured in said rubber block.

5. In a motor vehicle, a frame comprising, a pair of side frame members rigidly secured together, an axle, means to resiliently mount the frame on the axle comprising, springs, each spring being secured to the axle intermediate its ends and having its ends pivotally secured to one of said side frame members, a shackle interposed between the rear end of each of said springs and its adjacent side frame member, a pivotal connection between the front end of one of said springs and its side frame member, and a resilient pivotal connection between the front end of the other of said springs and its side frame member comprising, a member having an enlarged portion pivotally secured to the front end of said spring, a recess formed inthe front of the side frame member, and a hollow rubber block in said recess, the enlarged portion of said member being inserted in said Vrubber block and retained thereby in said recess.

Signed by me at South Bend, Indiana, this 4th day of February, 1930.

HARRY Gr. SMITH. 

